Public help cops trace this racist banker

An investment banker who was caught on camera racially abusing a woman on a late night train at Linlithgow has appeared in court.

Police issued CCTV photographs and a mobile phone image of Neil Docherty, taken by a disgusted fellow passenger, to track him down.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that within a matter of hours members of the public called cops with his details.

Docherty (43), of Linlithgow, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two racially aggravated offences.

He admitted assaulting Fella Hammach (33) on board a train on August 28.

He also admitted acting in a racially aggravated manner which caused or was intended to cause alarm and distress to Ms Hammach by shouting and swearing, acting in an aggressive manner and directing religious remarks towards her using racially offensive language.

Catherine Knowles, prosecuting, said the assault was witnessed by several passengers on the train.

As the train pulled into Linlithgow station at 11pm, Ms Hammach was unexpectedly slapped to the right side of her head from behind.

He continued to make racial comments until he left the train at Linlithgow station.

Mrs Knowles said a passenger collected the names and contact details of everyone who’d witnessed the incident and officers were waiting at Edinburgh to take statements from them. They later obtained CCTV footage.

After a public appeal Docherty surrendered himself to police.

Gillian Taylor, defending, said her client worked as an investment banker and would fully co-operate with the preparation of reports.